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Skunk Removal & Control Illinois

Are there skunks under your front stoop, porch, or patio? A strong skunk odor in or around your house and visible digging under stoops or patios are both indicators that skunks are living on your property. If you’re experiencing this, we can help. ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention has the experience, resources, and methods to remove skunks from your home safely and effectively. Give us a call today at 1-847-870-7175.

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Skunk Identification

Skunks (sometimes also called polecats) are easily distinguished by their bold, striped markings. The most common fur colors are black and white, but some skunks are shades of brown, gray, and even cream. All skunks are striped (even from birth), but sometimes those stripes are broken and appear as spots or splotches.

Skunks are also notorious for the strong smelling liquid they spray when threatened. The liquid is expelled from a gland under the tail and has a range of up to 15 feet, so stand back! Skunks vary in size from 15 to 36 inches long (including their tails), and males typically weigh between 3 and 12 pounds. Female skunks tend to be smaller than males and usually weigh fewer than 9 pounds.

Skunks have strong, five-toed front feet that are equipped with long, curved claws that are perfect for digging. Their hind feet have toes that feature shorter, straighter claws. A skunk’s tail is long and bushy.

Skunks are omnivores, which means they eat insects, larvae, earthworms, grubs, small rodents, snakes, birds, moles and more. In urban and suburban areas, skunks will forage for food in garbage cans and consume refuse left by humans. Skunks have also been known to find their way into garages while searching for pet food.

Skunk Habitat

Skunks are common throughout most of the U.S., including Northern Illinois. Skunks can thrive in various habitats, but they prefer forest borders, wooded ravines, and fields with a good water supply nearby. Skunks like to feel protected, and while they can dig their own dens, they frequently burrow under existing buildings and rock or junk piles. In suburban areas, skunks are most often found under stoops, sheds, and decks where they can dig out dens. Their entry point is usually about the size of a softball.

For 40 years, ABC Wildlife has helped homeowners across Chicago and the greater Chicagoland suburbs deal with skunk problems.

Skunk Damage

In urban and suburban neighborhoods, skunk problems often occur in residences and abandoned buildings. Skunks tend to nest under porches and stoops and burrow under the sides of homes. Skunks can enter homes through very small holes, creating a nest once inside.

Like any unwanted animal, skunks create damage both during entry and after they’ve entered a home. When skunks dig under a stoop, the stoop will frequently begin to crack and collapse. This crumbling concrete is not only a fall hazard, but can cost thousands of dollars to repair.

Because of their unpleasantly odoriferous glands, skunks present a problem unlike any other animal. The scent given off by a skunk can linger for weeks if not treated properly. It can also be very troublesome if sprayed on concrete foundation walls. Because concrete is porous, the scent can persist for an extremely long time and be very difficult to remove by homeowners who lack specialized knowledge.

Skunk Health Concerns

Skunks carry parasites and diseases that can be harmful to humans. These include rabies, roundworm, and parvovirus. Sealing up the skunk’s entry points before it has been removed from your property can can cause the skunk to be trapped and die under your stoop. When a skunk dies, their scent gland bursts, and the smell is even worse than it would be under normal circumstances. If you think you have skunks under your patio, front stoop, porch, or deck, do not approach them as alarming them may trigger them to spray or even bite you.

Contact a Skunk Removal Expert

You should contact a professional skunk removal and remediation service as soon as you identify any potential skunk problem in or around your home. Call 1-847-870-7175 to talk with our friendly and helpful staff today. ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention has over 40 years of experience in skunk prevention and repair.

We have both the knowledge and tools to get rid of your skunk problem no matter how simple or complex. Every one of our courteous, professional staff members is trained in skunk removal, trapping, and control techniques as well as how to identify skunks and prevent future skunk damage to your home.

ABC Wildlife Skunk Service Area

ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention is an animal control and prevention provider based in Arlington Heights, IL. For over 40 years, we have served individual home owners, commercial business owners, property managers, and municipal customers dealing with skunk problems. Below are some of the areas where we have helped customers deal with unwanted skunk visitors in both homes and businesses. This list is not exhaustive. If you are located in Northern Illinois, please contact us today at 847-870-7175, and our expert animal control specialists will be happy to help.

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What They Say About ABC Humane Wildlife

I arranged for them to install wire screening on 2 sides of a concrete stoop to prevent animals from digging under my porch. (I have used this company in the past to remove animals from other parts of my property. They suggested this proactive work.) They called to remind me several days before their appointment. They came as promised. They did a great job of preserving landscaping gravel on the side before they dug. After digging down approximately 18 inches, they installed wire mesh screening down the 2 sides of the stoop. They then covered the area with the dirt and final layer of landscaping stones. You couldn’t even tell the area had been excavated when they were done!

Debra Walker – Downers Grove, IL

We had bees crawling under exterior siding through a gap between siding and brick wall and wanted them eliminated. Phil the technician from ABC arrived at the scheduled time. He observed the bees and identified them as yellow jackets. Phil said he could eradicate them with a powder treatment and the bee activity would die down in a couple of days and we would be finished with the problem. Phil said if we still noticed bee activity after 7 days to call ABC and they would come back to re-treat the nest at no charge. It is just 3 days since Phil treated the nest and we have observed zero bee activity. We are very happy with the service and the remedy to our problem.

Elizabeth Monahan – Chicago, IL

One by one, they removed a family of nine flying squirrels from our attic. The attic was completely cleaned and sanitized, and new insulation as blown in. All went well. It was easy to make appointments with ABC Humane Wildlife Control, and they were all very profession and prompt with their service. We dealt with many on their staff while trying to catch all the squirrels, and each of the representatives were friendly and helpful. We had some issues with the condition of some of the traps, but that was eventually resolved. They are a very helpful organization and the staff is very knowledgeable.

ABC Wildlife Scholarship

As a woman-owned corporation operating in a largely male field, we understand the remarkable impact women can have. We want to pave the way for other women pursuing their dreams in the scientific world, which is why ABC Wildlife has created a scholarship for women in STEM. Learn more about the scholarhip.